Bag handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for loading packages into a bag is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one first suction cup operable, when vacuum is supplied thereto, to support one side of a bag which extends generally vertically downwardly from the first suction cup, a feeding station operable to store bags in a generally horizontal position, a transfer arm, at least one transfer arm suction cup operable, when vacuum is supplied thereto, to support one side of a bag, and means for moving the transfer arm suction cup longitudinally of the transfer arm. The transfer arm is rotatable between a first position in which the transfer arm suction cup is aligned with a portion of a bag in the feeding station and a second position in which the transfer arm suction cup is generally aligned with the first suction cup, The transfer arm is operable to move the transfer arm suction cup into engagement with a bag in the feeding station, to pick up the bag when vacuum is supplied to the transfer arm suction cup, to rotate so that the bag extends generally vertically downwardly from the transfer arm suction cup to a position in which the transfer arm suction cup can be moved longitudinally of the arm between a first position in which the first suction cup and the transfer arm suction cup are in closely adjacent, opposed relationship, and a second position in which a bag supported by the first and transfer arm suction cups is in an open position. The apparatus is also operable to load packages into the bag, to rotate the bag into which packages have been dropped in a given direction so that its top moves away from the transfer arm, to move the rotated bag laterally to a transfer station, and to support the bag in its rotated position while it is moved to the transfer station. Finally, the apparatus is also operable, to rotate the bag, after it reaches the transfer station, in a direction opposite to the given direction and to cause the rotated bag to continue rotating toward a horizontal position, and means for sealing the bag.

[0001] This invention relates to bag handling apparatus and, moreparticularly, to apparatus for loading packages, for example, packagesof potatoes, into bags, and for closing the bags. The packages are fedonto an inlet conveyor, and sealed bags, each containing a predeterminednumber of the packages, are removed from an outlet conveyor.

THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Apparatus for loading packages, for example of potatoes, intobags, frequently called “bale bags”, is known, being shown, for example,in the patents discussed below:

[0003] The first paragraph of the abstract of U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,940,granted Sep. 6, 1977 to Thomas J. White et al., reads as follows:

[0004] “In the overall system, vertically disposed, primary bags arefilled with articles to a predetermined weight and conveyor meansconduct the filled primary bags to a discharge point where apredetermined number of said filled bags are discharged at a dischargepoint and fall into an upright master bag, after which the filled masterbag is carried away and closed, and an empty bag is positioned toreceive primary bags of said predetermined number from said conveyormeans.”

[0005] The abstract of U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,614, granted Jun. 2, 1992 toHugo Andersen, reads as follows:

[0006] “The invention provides a baling machine for baling groups ofpackages containing product into a bale bag. Packages are transported tofall down a chute individually where they are stacked in a group untilthe group is allowed to fall into a bale bag and into engagement with amoving platform which decelerates the group to minimize impact andresulting bruising. The filled bale bag is then ejected and closed.”

[0007] The abstract of U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,166, granted Apr. 13, 1993 toHugo Andersen, reads as follows:

[0008] “Bag handling apparatus for sequentially selecting bags from asupply thereof and positioning them for subsequent opening and fillinghas a vertically-movable slider positioned above a stack of horizontalclosed bags. A carriage is pivotally secured to the slider and by linksto a fixed point. Upward movement of the slider causes the carriage tobe moved angularly from a downwardly directed position adjacent thestack of bags enabling the carriage to pick up a horizontal top bag to aforwardly directed position to cause the carriage to present the bag ina vertically-oriented position for subsequent opening and filling.”

[0009] The patent states that four sets of openers are provided andpositioned so that a bag to be filled can be opened to a rectangularconfiguration and states (see eighth paragraph from the end of thespecification)

[0010] “Each opener 102 is pivotally mounted at 106 on a frame member108 and is movable by operation of a hydraulic cylinder, the piston rod10 of which is shown between a retracted position shown in dottedoutline and an opening position shown in full lines.”

SUMMARY OF THE INSTANT INVENTION

[0011] The instant invention is apparatus for loading packages into abag. The apparatus comprises at least one first suction cup operable,when vacuum is supplied thereto, to support one side of a bag whichextends generally vertically downwardly from the first suction cup, afeeding station operable to store bags in a generally horizontalposition, a transfer arm, at least one transfer arm suction cupoperable, when vacuum is supplied thereto, to support one side of a bag,and means for moving the transfer arm suction cup longitudinally of saidtransfer arm. The transfer arm is rotatable between a first position inwhich the transfer arm suction cup is aligned with a portion of a bag inthe feeding station and a second position in which the transfer armsuction cup is generally aligned with the first suction cup, Thetransfer arm is operable to move the transfer arm suction cup intoengagement with a bag in the feeding station, to pick up the bag whenvacuum is supplied to the transfer arm suction cup, to rotate so thatthe bag extends generally vertically downwardly from the transfer armsuction cup to a position in which the transfer arm suction cup can bemoved longitudinally of the arm between a first position in which thefirst suction cup and the transfer arm suction cup are in closelyadjacent, opposed relationship, and a second position in which a bagsupported by the first and transfer arm suction cups is in an openposition.

[0012] The apparatus also includes spreaders which are movable between afirst, withdrawn position in which they do not interfere with movementof a bag supported by the first and transfer arm suction cups and asecond in which they are inside a bag supported by the first andtransfer arm suction cups, and are operable to support a bag in the openposition, but do not interfere with the loading of a package into thebag. The apparatus also includes means for dropping packages into a bagsupported in the open position by the spreaders.

[0013] The apparatus, in addition, includes means for moving a bag intowhich packages have been dropped laterally to a transfer station, andthe last-named means is operable to rotate the bag in a given directionso that its top moves away from the transfer arm, and to support the bagin its rotated position while it is moved to the transfer station.Preferably, the means for moving a bag into which packages have beendropped laterally to a transfer station, is also operable, after the bagreaches the transfer station, to rotate the bag in a direction oppositeto the given direction and to cause the rotated bag to continue rotatingtoward a horizontal position. In preferred embodiment, the apparatusadditionally includes means for moving a portion of the bag above thetopmost package therein in the given direction.

[0014] The apparatus additionally includes means operable to receive abag in the transfer station which is rotating toward a horizontalposition, and to move that bag away from the transfer station, and meansfor applying a sealing tape to a bag being moved away from the transferstation.

[0015] Finally, the apparatus includes means for preventing the deliveryof a package to the means for dropping packages into a bag supported inthe open position by the spreaders until after the elapse of sufficienttime for the previous package to drop into the bag supported by thespreaders and, after each bag is filled, until after the elapse ofsufficient additional time for the filled bag to be released by andmoved away from the spreaders, and for a successor bag to be positionedand supported in the open position by the spreaders.

BRIEF DESCTIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a partially schematic view in vertical elevation showingan inlet conveyor, a bag loading station and a transfer station, meansfor placing packages delivered by the inlet conveyor in bags, and meansfor conveying bags containing the packages to the transfer station.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a partially schematic vertical sectional view showingthe transfer station of FIG. 1 and a conveyor which receives bags fromthe transfer station and conveys them through a sealing station.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a partially schematic view in vertical section showingcertain details of the bag loading station of FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a partially schematic vertical sectional view showingfurther details of the bag loading station of FIG. 1.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a partially schematic view in vertical section showingadditional details of the bag loading station of FIG. 1.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a partially schematic vertical sectional view showingstill more details of the bag loading station of FIG. 1.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0022] It is an object of the instant invention to provide bag handlingapparatus.

[0023] It is a further object to provide such apparatus for loadingpackages, for example, packages of potatoes, into bags, and for closingthe bags.

[0024] Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment thereof, wherein reference is made to the foregoing drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Referring, now, in detail to the drawings, and, in particular toFIG. 1, two bags 10 are shown, one on the left which is in a fillingposition, being under a drop gate 11, and one on the right which hasbeen filled, in apparatus according to the invention which is indicatedgenerally at 12. Packages 13, for example, ten pound bags of potatoes,are delivered from a loading station (not illustrated) by a conveyor 14and a slide 15 into contact with a timing roll 16, which rotates toconvey packages 13, one after another, onto a conveyor 17, by which theyare delivered to the drop gate 11. The conveyor 17 moves fast enoughthat the inertia of a bag 13 which is discharged therefrom causes it tocontinue to move to the left in FIG. 1, without longitudinal rotation,and to drop, while in the same longitudinal rotational position, ontothe drop gate 11, which is pulled open periodically so that the package13 thereon rolls downwardly, and into the one of the bags 10 which isbeing filled. The drop gate 11 opens, after a suitable time delay, inresponse to a signal from an electric eye indicating that a package 13is near the end of the conveyor 17. The roll 16 operates continuallywhile five packages are delivered to the drop gate 11, and then stopsfor a period of time, which can be as short as a second, long enough toenable one of the bags 10 that has been filled, while in the fillingstation, to be moved away from the filling station toward the positionshown on the right, and for another bag to be positioned in the fillingstation. The speed of the conveyor 17 is sufficiently fast, relative tothe speed at which packages 13 move down the slide 15, to providesufficient time for a given package to drop into the bag supported bythe spreaders and for the drop gate to close before the next packagereaches the point where it causes the signal from the electric eye whichinitiates the next opening of the gate 11. The parts of the operationwhich involve moving a filled bag away from the filling station towardthe position shown on the right in FIG. 1 and positioning another bag inthe filling station are described in detail in the following paragraph.

[0026] When a given number of the packages 13 have been rolled into thebag 10, spreaders 18 are withdrawn by rotation from the interior of thebag 10; the rear of a conveyor 19, the bottom of a conveyor 20 and therear of a back support 21 are rotated downwardly, as subsequentlyexplained in more detail, so that the bag 10 which is in the fillingposition rotates downwardly and behind the plane of FIG. 1. The bag 10is supported in this position by the conveyor 19, by the conveyor 20 andby the back support 21. Thereupon, the conveyors 19 and 20 are energizedsimultaneously and driven at the same speed to move the bag 10 away fromthe filling position, to the right in FIG. 1, and are stoppedsimultaneously when the bag 10 is in a transfer station, i.e., is in theposition (left to right) shown in FIG. 1 for the filled bag, in whichposition it is aligned with a cylinder 22. In the meantime, thepreviously filled bag has been moved from the transfer station, asdescribed below with reference to FIG. 2.

[0027] The cylinder 22 is activated periodically, whenever a filled bagis in the transfer station, so that a head 23 thereof moves the leftside of the portion of the bag 10 in the transfer station which is abovethe packages 13 therein to the right. Meanwhile, the conveyor 19, theconveyor 20 and the back support 21 are rotated back to their respectivehorizontal and vertical positions, so that the bag 10 is rotatedupwardly and to the right. The movement of the bag is sufficiently fastthat its momentum causes the filled bag, as indicated by an arrow 24, torotate onto an exit conveyor 25, by which it is moved upwardly and tothe right to and beyond a sealing station. A bag is shown in brokenlines in FIG. 2 as it is rotating toward the exit conveyor 25.

[0028] The sealing station comprises a tape dispenser 26 from whichsealing tape is delivered to an applicator roll 27, passing betweencooperating rolls 28-28 and 29-29. The applicator roll 27 and thecooperating rolls 28-28 and 29-29 are all pinned to a plate 30 which issupported by a pin 31 so that it can swing, as subsequently described inmore detail, between the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 andthat shown in broken lines.

[0029] A flexible curtain 32 is suspended so that the top of a bag 10rotating onto the exit conveyor 25 as described above contacts thecurtain 32, and the right side of the portion of the bag above thepackages 13 therein is moved to the left on top of the portion of thebag which was previously folded to the right by the head 23 of thecylinder 22, and on top of the bag 10, as indicated at 33.

[0030] In the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, a bag 10 filledwith packages 13 has been moved by the conveyor 25 to a position whereit is entering the sealing station. In this position for the bag 10, theflexible sheet 32 is still in contact with the portion 33 of the bagwhich was originally above the packages 13 therein, holding it incontact with the filled portion of the bag, and the open end of the bagis approaching contact with the roll 27 and with sealing tape,designated 34, which extends from the dispenser 26 between the rolls 28and 29 and over the applicator roll 27, where, as previously stated, thebag 10 contacts it. One side of the tape 34 carries a pressure sensitiveadhesive; that side faces the bag 10, so that the sealing operationstarts as soon as the bag makes contact with the tape 34. As the bag 10continues to advance, its movement causes the head plate 30 to rotatecounterclockwise around the pin 31, and the surface of the bag 10 movesrelative to the roll 27, from which tape is dispensed. The movement ofthe bag 10 relative to the roll 27 continues, with the latter pressingthe tape 34 into contact with the former, until the closed end of thebag 10 advances far enough to clear the roll 27; thereupon, the headplate 30 rotates clockwise back to the position shown in solid lines.During this clockwise rotation, a blade 35 cuts the tape 34. After theclockwise rotation of the head to the position shown in solid lines inFIG. 2, the apparatus is positioned to perform the sealing operationjust described on the next bag 10, and a bag 10 shown in broken linescan be removed manually from the apparatus and prepared for shipment,for example, by stacking on a pallet (not illustrated).

[0031] Referring to FIG. 3, a bag 10 filled with packages 13 is shownunder the drop gate 11, with the spreaders 18 inside the top of the bag.Suction cups 36 do not engage the filled bag 10 at this point in theoperation. An empty bag 10 is supported, just to the right of the filledbag 10, by suction cups 37 on the rod 38 of a cylinder 39 which iscarried by a bag feeding arm indicated generally at 40. The nextsequence of the part of the apparatus 12 shown in FIG. 3 involvesrotating the spreaders 18 so that they are withdrawn from the interiorof the bag 10, rotating the conveyors 19 and 20 and the back support 21,and energizing the conveyors 19 and 20. Rotating the conveyors 19 and 20and the back support 21 causes the top of the bag 10 which is filledwith packages 13 to move to the left until the suction cup 36 is to theright of the right side of the filled bag 10, while the energizedconveyors 19 and 20 move the filled bag to the position where it isaligned with the cylinder 22 (see FIG. 2; the cylinder 22 is not shownin FIG. 3) for transfer to the conveyor 25 as described above.Referring, again, to FIG. 3, after the filled bag 10 has been conveyedaway from the position shown, the cylinder 39 advances the rod 38 andthe suction cups 37 so that the bag 10 engaged by the suction cups 37 ismoved into contact with the suction cups 36, to which vacuum is thensupplied. The rod 38 and the suction cups 37 are then moved to the rightin FIG. 4 to open the bag 10; and the spreaders 18 are rotated into theinterior of the open bag 10. FIG. 5 shows the apparatus at this stage ofthe cycle. Vacuum is then released from the suction cups 36 and 37; therod 38 and the suction cups 37 are withdrawn; the arm 40 is rotated 90°counterclockwise; and the rod 38 and the suction cups 37 are advancedinto contact with the topmost one of a plurality of bags 10 in adelivery station. FIG. 6 shows the apparatus at this stage of the cycle,and FIG. 3 shows, in broken lines, the arm 40, the cylinder 39, the rod38 and the suction cups 37 in the FIG. 6 position. Vacuum is thensupplied to the suction cups 37, the rod 38 is withdrawn slightly, andthe arm 40 is rotated clockwise so that the apparatus is againpositioned as shown in FIG. 3.

[0032] It will be appreciated that various changes to and modificationsof the apparatus described above can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims,and that, in its essential details, the invention is apparatus forloading packages into a bag. The apparatus comprises at least one firstsuction cup operable, when vacuum is supplied thereto, to support oneside of a bag which extends generally vertically downwardly from thefirst suction cup, a feeding station operable to store bags in agenerally horizontal position, a transfer arm, at least one transfer armsuction cup operable, when vacuum is supplied thereto, to support oneside of a bag, and means for moving the transfer arm suction cuplongitudinally of said transfer arm. The transfer arm is rotatablebetween a first position in which the transfer arm suction cup isaligned with a portion of a bag in the feeding station and a secondposition in which the transfer arm suction cup is generally aligned withthe first suction cup. The transfer arm is operable to move the transferarm suction cup into engagement with a bag in the feeding station, topick up the bag when vacuum is supplied to the transfer arm suction cup,to rotate so that the bag extends generally vertically downwardly fromthe transfer arm suction cup to a position in which the transfer armsuction cup can be moved longitudinally of the arm between a firstposition in which the first suction cup and the transfer arm suction cupare in closely adjacent, opposed relationship, and a second position inwhich a bag supported by the first and transfer arm suction cups is inan open position.

[0033] The apparatus also includes spreaders which are movable between afirst, withdrawn position in which they do not interfere with movementof a bag supported by the first and transfer arm suction cups and asecond in which they are inside a bag supported by the first andtransfer arm suction cups, and are operable to support a bag in the openposition, but do not interfere with the loading of a package into thebag. The apparatus also includes means for dropping packages into a bagsupported in the open position by the spreaders.

[0034] The apparatus, in addition, includes means for moving a bag intowhich packages have been dropped laterally to a transfer station, andthe last-named means is operable to rotate the bag in a given directionso that its top moves away from the transfer arm, and to support the bagin its rotated position while it is moved to the transfer station.Preferably, the means for moving a bag into which packages have beendropped laterally to a transfer station, is also operable, after the bagreaches the transfer station, to rotate the bag in a direction oppositeto the given direction and to cause the rotated bag to continue rotatingtoward a horizontal position. In preferred embodiment, the apparatusadditionally includes means for moving a portion of the bag above thetopmost package therein in the given direction.

[0035] The apparatus additionally includes means operable to receive abag in the transfer station which is rotating toward a horizontalposition, and to move that bag away from the transfer station, and meansfor applying a sealing tape to a bag being moved away from the transferstation.

[0036] Finally, the apparatus includes means for preventing the deliveryof a package to the means for dropping packages into a bag supported inthe open position by the spreaders until after the elapse of sufficienttime for the previous package to drop into the bag supported by thespreaders and, after each bag is filled, until after the elapse ofsufficient additional time for the filled bag to be released by andmoved away from the spreaders, and for a successor bag to be positionedand supported in the open position by the spreaders.

[0037] It will be appreciated that various other changes andmodifications of the apparatus described above can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:
 1. Apparatus for loading packages into a bag, said apparatuscomprising at least one first suction cup operable, when vacuum issupplied thereto, to support one side of a bag which extends generallyvertically downwardly from said first suction cup, a feeding stationoperable to store bags in a generally horizontal position, a transferarm, at least one transfer arm suction cup operable, when vacuum issupplied thereto, to support one side of a bag, means for moving saidtransfer arm suction cup longitudinally of said transfer arm, saidtransfer arm being rotatable between a first position in which saidtransfer arm suction cup is aligned with a portion of a bag in saidfeeding station and a second position in which said transfer arm suctioncup is generally aligned with said first suction cup, said transfer armbeing operable to move said transfer arm suction cup into engagementwith a bag in said feeding station, to pick up the bag when vacuum issupplied to said transfer arm suction cup, to rotate so that the bagextends generally vertically downwardly from said transfer arm suctioncup to a position in which said transfer arm suction cup can be movedlongitudinally of said arm between a first position in which said firstsuction cup and said transfer arm suction cup are in closely adjacent,opposed relationship, and a second position in which a bag supported bysaid first and said transfer arm suction cups is in an open position. 2.Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which additionally includes spreaderswhich are movable between a first, withdrawn position in which they donot interfere with movement of a bag supported by said first andtransfer arm suction cups and a second in which they are inside a bagsupported by said first and transfer arm suction cups, and are operableto support a bag in the open position, but do not interfere with theloading of a package into the bag.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2which additionally includes means for dropping packages into a bagsupported in the open position by said spreaders.
 4. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 3 which additionally includes means for moving a baginto which packages have been dropped laterally to a transfer station,said last-named means being operable to rotate the bag in a givendirection so that its top moves away from said transfer arm, and tosupport the bag in its rotated position while it is moved to saidtransfer station.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said meansfor moving a bag into which packages have been dropped laterally to atransfer station, is also operable, after the bag reaches the transferstation, to rotate the bag in a direction opposite to the givendirection and to cause the rotated bag to continue rotating toward ahorizontal position.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 whichadditionally includes means for moving a portion of the bag above thetopmost package therein in the given direction.
 7. Apparatus as claimedin claim 5 which additionally includes means operable to receive a bagin the transfer station which is rotating toward a horizontal position,and to move that bag away from the transfer station.
 8. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 7 which additionally includes means for applying asealing tape to a bag being moved away from the transfer station. 9.Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 which additionally includes meansoperable to deliver packages to said means for dropping packages into abag and to time the rate at which successive bags are so delivered sothat there is time for each bag to be dropped into the bag before isdelivered to said bag dropping means.